Description

Productivity and the Principle of Doing Things We Enjoy
Today, I delve into the idea of reward and its impact on our productivity. You may have heard this before: I’m going to work an X amount of hours, then I’m going to do something I enjoy or a hobby of mine for X amount of hours as a reward.

I believe that we have to do things we enjoy simply because we enjoy them, not as a reward. This is actually a helpful tool for our own advancement and productivity. 

5 Strategies to Reframe Reward and Productivity
Here are 5 strategies to help reframe reward as a tool to enhance your productivity, informed by the philosophies I live by in both my personal and professional life: 

1. We shouldn't consider the things we enjoy to be a reward. At Apply Yourself, we’re all about healthy, sustainable, thoughtful, productive, and intentional advancement.
2. The amount of time we spend on a task can’t reliably measure productivity. (And neither can the number of pages you read per hour!) What if something takes longer than expected or something comes up? We may start to feel insecurity, discouraged, or disappointed in ourselves. Instead, let’s think constructively and intentionally about the time and energy we spend doing something. 
3. Reframe productivity as a process. Processes don’t always go smoothly, so let’s focus on making progress intentionally, thoughtfully, and so we don’t have to go back and redo the work. 
4. Reframe "reward" as “something you’re looking forward to.”  A reward is something that you will deny yourself if you don’t achieve X, while something you look forward to is something you’re going to do for yourself anyway. 
5. Reframe your mindset to one of “looking forward” rather than thinking about the things we enjoy as rewards for some quantifiable goal. Do things you enjoy regardless, thinking: “Because it’s good for me, and it will help me to be more productive, present, and have a positive mindset and energy while I’m working.”

Links:
Episode 39: Strategies To Boost Your Productivity In High-Stress Times

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